Few franchises in video games have a stronger cult following and lasting influence than Nintendo's 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Earthbound trilogy. These RPGs were revolutionary for forgoing traditional fantasy and science fiction settings, and instead placed t🀅he adventure on children living in modern society. Well-written characters, cle💛ver mechanics, and at times a near psychedelic audio and visual expression, has ensured that these games are still beloved to this very day.
This endearing trilogy has Ninten, Ness, and Lucas squaring up against aliens, robots, pig armies, and even hippies on their quest to save the world. Their adventures take them from American suburbs, to mystical lands, and even under the ocean. The odds always seemed stacked against our young PSI-wielding protagonists. Luckily, they aren't alone. The following are the best teammates a boy could ask for.
10 Salsa
Don't let the fact that he is a monkey fool you. Salsa, of Mother 3 fame, is one of the most dynamic, compelling, and endearing companions you will find along your quest. Enslaved and tortured by the evil Fassad, this intrepid primate is forced to do his bidding as his girlfriend has been taken hostage🌳 and used as collateral to keep him obedient.
Surprisingly dark background story aside, Salsa may not be much of a fighter in the stats department, but he more than makes up for it with a vaꦅriety of unique and clever skills both in and out of combat. If used correctly, a well-tim🤪ed dance or monkey mimic can single-handedly turn the tide of battle.
9 Pippi
You only get once chance at a first impression. Pippi, of the very first entry in the franchise, is chronologically the very first party member you eve🃏r meet in an Earthbound video game. Now known as Earthbound Beginnings, ꦐearly in the game the mayor charges Ninten to go rescue her in a cemetery just outside his hometown of Podunk.
After braving another series staple in hordes of Zombies, Pippi joins your side and the journey is better for it. While not able to use PSI attacks, she has fantastic stats across the board. Brandishing slingshots and boomerangs, she is an absolute force on the battlefield. Pippi also has the distinct honor of giving the protagonist the very f🔜irst Franklin Badge, another legendary and reoccurring piece of equipment from the franchise.
8 Flint
Earthbound is, in many ways, a story about family. This is no more apparent than in the Japan-only Mother 3. Flint is the father of the game's protagonist Lucas, and the player spends a good amount of time playing and adventuring as him.
This rad dad boasts incredible 🅰HP, offensive, and defense stats. Able to attack not just a single enemy, but a whole group with his powerful Swing attack, he proves that PSI attacks are not always necessary when you have pure power and grit. Without spoiling the central plot to this beautiful and tragic tale, Flint is one of the first characters in the game the player truly can resonate with and cheer for.
7 Teddy
Everyone loves a redemption story. Teddy, of Earthbound Beginnings, is an early video game example of 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:recruiting an enemy. That alone would make this infamous, and now former, leader of the B. B. Gang noteworthy, but the b𝕴ig guy backs it up in battle as well.
First found in the town of Ellay, the team will end up having to fight Teddy before ever getting the chance for a team up. Sporting an intimidating arsenal of knives, and even katanas, Teddy is entirely capable of clearing enemies in one shot with the right equipment. His aptitude for violence is not only useful, but provides a satisfying story arc if players choose to see whဣere this powerhouse ends up by the end of the journey.
6 Ana
With a kind and simple gesture of returning her hat, Ninten will be joined by a PSI powerhouse, Ana. She is a young lady from Snowman who lives with her father, seeming unassumiꩵng and quiet at first glance. In actuality, she is one of the most important party members in Earthbound Beginnings.
Sporting frying pans and slingshots, her true strength lies in her PSI abilities. Her power is so strong that she even overshadows our protagonist in terms of versatility and ra𒉰w power. WIth such moves as PK Fire Omega, Life Up Beta, and PK Beam Gamma, she has an answer to nearly every situation on the battlefield.
5 Paula
The very first character to join Ness on his quest to gather the eight melodies, Paula has become one of the most popular characters in the entire franchise. Another PSI powerhouse, she and Ness are often assumed to be dating by other characters they meet along their adventure, creating added depth to the party's relationship as a whole.
Similarly to the aforementioned Ana, Paula's PSI moves can completely dominate the battlefield, while her pray ability can call forth a random status effect on the enemy. It's her ability to pray that plays a crucial part in defeating Giygas, and cements her as one of the franchise&rsqu🤪o;s most endearing and important party members.
4 Poo
Laugh at the name all you want, the prince of Dalaam is one of the greatest characters in the Earthbound franchise. The last par♐ty member to join Ness and his crew, this solemn and dedicated warrior is dependable,🅷 dangerous, and loyal.
A master of martial arts, Poo boasts the best stats of any character in Earthbound. He has a variety of effective normal attack moves and access to PSI attacks, making him an offensive threat to anyone who stands in the party's way. What makes him truly a cut above is his ability to use the formidable PK Starstorm, which deals incredible damage and hits every enemy on screen. He also may very well have the most unique character quirks of any party member, as he can only equip from the "Of Kings" gear set, and does not enjoy typical Western food healing items like the other members of the team.
3 Duster
There is perhaps no one easier to root for than Duster. He has a leg impairment which has his character sprite walking with a limp, and a terrible — if not verbally abusive — relationship with his father Wess. Even years-long amnesia have not𒀰 stood in the way of this talented party member consistently defying the odds.
Mother 3's resident thief may not have any PSI attacks, but his tools more than make up for it. They can cause a staggering variety of status effects and limitations on the party's foes, securing victory when it doesn't seem possible. These thief tools can also be used outside of battle, helping both Duster and his teammates reach previously inaccessible areas. In a nice touch, despite his leg condition he still has incredible speed and can often attack before the enemy has made a move.
2 Kumatora
When it comes to PSI, no one beats the appointed princess of Osohe Castle. Raised by the endearing Magyspyies in Mother 3, she has abilities both offensive and defensive that outshine even Lucas on the battlefield. She is one 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:powerful kid.
She has nearly every blockbuster PSI attack that exists in the series, from all PK element attacks to PK Starstorm. She can also learn the near-game-breaking PK Ground, which hits enemies an incredible five times and spreads the damage across targets. It can't even be reflected by PSI shields! This makes it incredibly useful for some later-game boss fights, and secures Kumatora's spot as one of the greatest party members in Earthbound history.
1 Jeff
As Jeff himself tells you when he first appears in Earthbound: "I'm not very strong, really near-sighted, kind of shy, and I tend to be a little reckless." He is also the best party member in the Earthbound series. The neglected and unassuming son of the always prominent Dr. Andonuts, Jeff is immediately easy to cheer for. In his introduction, he single-handedly rescues Ness and Paula from captivity in Theed. Surprisingly, he has the potential to deal the highest damage of any party member of any game in the Earthbound series.
Even more impressively, Jeff does this without the use of the game's trademark PSI moves. Instead, Jeff uses his intelligence and ingenuity as an inventor to create a series of weapons and gadgets that are unmatched, both on and off the battlefield. It's a beautiful message that shows you don't need psychic gifts, big muscles, or martial arts to be a hero. In the world of Earthbound, you just need intelligence and the willingness to make a difference.